When Capcom closed Clover Studio, fans wondered where some of the most talented Japanese designers would end up. The group at the heart of the team is responsible for some of the most influential titles of the past 10 years,… Continue Reading →

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When Capcom closed Clover Studio, fans wondered where some of the most talented Japanese designers would end up. The group at the heart of the team is responsible for some of the most influential titles of the past 10 years, including Resident Evil and Devil May Cry.
Well it looks like the team has sprouted up again and the company that was founded as Seeds Inc. is now Platinum Games.
As one of its titles in development, Madworld stands out because of its bold look. The cel-shading is done in black and white and gives the world the vibe of Frank Miller's Sin City comics. The only other color are red for blood and a little yellow.
As the protagonist, players find themselves in a brutal game show called Death Watch where they have to battle against hordes of enemies wanting to kill him. Depending on the combos and the foes' deaths, players get points.
Their actions also reach the eyes of the commentators who dish out criticism of what and how you should have killed one enemy or another. It's very Smash TV. I was waiting for someone to say "I'll buy that for a dollar."
From the looks of it, Madworld for the Wii plays like any other beat-'em up. It does put the motion-controllers to good use during some of the finishing moves. Otherwise, it seems like a lot of waggle/button mashing.
The game does take advantage of the surrounding environments. Players can lift up some brawlers and impale them on spikes. Elsewhere, they can grab signs from the ground and use it as a bludgeoning tool. Players will need all the points or money or both to challenge the bosses.
But what makes this title stand out is its style. It almost reminds me of Suda51's No More Heroes in its brashness. Director Shigenori Nishikawa, who worked on two Resident Evil titles for GameCube, could have a similar title on his hands.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/07/18/e3-madworld-platinums-other-game/feed/0madworld